Wdowczyk’s double seals dream debut

HIGH flying Brighouse’s team ethos outdid the more direct approach of their opponents Carlton as Old Boys went on to enjoy a 3-0 success.

A dream debut from Chris Wdowczyk, who ended up with two goals, was matched by Andy Hall who continued his outstanding formin the heart of the defence.

Brighouse took the game to Carlton with Rob Kenny leading the line and bringing in the fast wing play of Matty Roy on the left and Peter Kuleczko on the right. The pace, unpredictability and range of their movement bamboozled the Carlton back four with Kenny looking particularly dangerous, only just missing out with a couple of sharp opportunities.

Brighouse finally broke the deadlock when a quick break on the counter attack and a through ball by Burton saw Kenny latch onto it, Carlton keeper Hunter could only parry the shot into the path of Wdowczyk who sidefooted it home.

Carlton, at the bottom of the league and with a point to prove, came back at Brighouse, captain Mark Connor leading the way in midfield. With pace on the wings Brighouse full backs Joe Nelson and Luke Johnson had to be at their best. However, along with centre backs Ian Brock and Andy Hall, anticipating all the Carlton moves, Jason Hibbert in the Brighouse goal had a quiet time.

The second goal came 10 minutes before the break when a pinpoint ball from Fletcher found Kuleczko bearing down on the Carlton goal. Beating the defender for pace Kuleczko got behind the back four and placed a low cross into the heart of the Carlton penalty area where Wdowczyk’s anticipation saw him once again place the ball past the despairing keeper.

Carlton redoubled their efforts after the break, flooding forward at every opportunity. The game opened up with the sterling efforts of Hall and Brock again stemming the Carlton tide.

The flanks became another avenue for Brighouse to ply their trade and the attacking abilities of fullbacks Johnson and Nelson came to the fore setting up their respective wingmen to surge deep into the Carlton defence. From one of these forays the ball went into the Carlton area and found Wdowczyk on the edge. He laid it back to Fletcher who struck the ball low and hard from 30 yards into the bottom right hand corner of the net.

Hibbert was called for on more than one occasionin this final phase as Carlton attacked, diving at the feet of the advancing forwards and spectacularly saving with his feet.

Quick on the counter, Brighouse exploited the gaps and should have gone further ahead, Burton unlucky not to convert a couple of chances late on.